A Tribute to Frank Prentiss Kern Jr.
October 24, 1925 - February 8th, 2003

Seldom is this world graced by a man loved so dearly, and who loved so unconditionally. My father in-law, Frank Prentiss Kern Jr. was such a man. The grandfather of my children Tyler and Alicia, Frank taught me to embrace life, the importance and recognition of family, and to make the most out of each and every day as it is gifted to us. I consider myself proud to be called his son, and very fortunate to have shared nearly half of my life with Frank. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and truly remembered as an inspiration to me for the rest of my life.
Michael R. Boyce, February 8th, 2003.

Frank Prentiss Kern Jr. was born Oct. 24, 1925, in Peoria Illinois, to Frank Prentiss Kern and Helen Laurina Scally. The family moved to Seattle Washington by 1930, and later to Los Angeles California where he graduated from junior high school.

Pictured at left are Frank Prentiss Kern Sr. and Family, May 9th, 1933, the day of Frank Prentiss Kern Jr.'s First Communion.
Top Left: His mother, Helen Laurina (Rena) Scally, Top Right: Hi s father, Frank Prentiss Kern Sr., bottom left: Frank Prentiss Kern Jr.,
Bottom Right; his sister, Mary Viola (Aunty Ree) Kern.

Frank entered the US Navy in 1943 during WW2 and was assigned to the Submarine Fleet as a projectionist. Following the war, he lived in Los Angeles, Ca., and while attending night school; he worked his way into the savings a loan business eventually becoming a respected Vice-President with Mercury Savings and Loan.

His hobbies included home movies, photography, computers, coin collecting, woodworking and refinishing, sunbathing, camping, fishing, boating and water-skiing.

He was president of both the Long Beach Chapter and Regional Council of Parents without Partners of Southern California where he was instrumental in raising 30,000 dollars for Muscular Dystrophy. His other civic activities included Sea Scouts and Toastmasters.

Frank moved to Southern Oregon in 1997, and regularly attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Medford.

Confirmed through genealogy, Frank Prentiss Kern Jr. had become the longest living male descendant of his direct lineage in 300 years, only surpassed by his ancestor Johannes Kern, who died at the age of 78 in 1703. His ancestors served the United States in every major war since the revolutionary war.

Survivors include a son, Frank Prentiss Kern the third, three daughters, L. Kathleen Kern, Christine Dotson, and Sandra Laureen Boyce, one grandson, and two granddaughters. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Viola , and a son, Bradford Gary Kern.

 

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